The Best Of Dixieland - RCA Records

The Best Of Dixieland

featuring Pete Fountain

1964 RCA Records LPM-2982 Mono/LSP-2982 Stereo

Liner Notes:

THE BEST OF DIXIELAND
Reissue produced by Brad McCuen

A Treasure-Trove for Dixieland Devotees

Just recently, a teenager "flipped" (he expressed it as "I'm flipped!") when he found out that jazz music is, relatively speaking, a young art. He just naturally figured that people had been playing jazz, and enjoying jazz, almost as long as music itself had form. With considerable logic, our young friend said, "You mean Bach didn't know about jazz?" Sadly, he didn't. Jazz is new on the tablet of time. The first jazz recording ever made was cut February 26, 1917 - not yet fifty years ago. It was, incidentally, made by RCA Victor and is included in this collection. And - it was Dixieland music. Dixieland evolved in New Orleans and is the oldest and most durable jazz style. In fact, it's been said that Dixieland is the jazz music that's most played and most enjoyed. This collection is firmly dedicated to providing this most delightful of all jazz - The Best of Dixieland.

Side 1
1. LOUIS ARMSTRONG: Rockin' Chair
2. TURK MURPHY: Tiger Rag
3. MUGGSY SPANIER: I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate

4. BOURBON STREET ALL-STAR DIXIELANDERS: High Society
(New Orleans, 6/12/56) What a jam session! And it was recorded right down in the French quarter of New Orleans. Originally High Society was a march, but it soon was adopted by jazz. Our soloists are, respectively, the late George Girard, Larry Shields, Jack Delaney, Lester Bouchon, Tony Almerico, Pete Fountain and Santo Pecora.

Leader/trumpet: George Guard
Trumpet: Tony Almerico
Trombone: Jack Delaney
Trombone: Santo Pecora
Drums: Roger Johnston
Clarinet: Pete Fountain
Clarinet: Larry Shields
Tenor Sax: Lester Bouchon
Drums: Paul Edwards
Guitar: Frank Federico
Piano: Roy Zimmerman
Bass: Phil Darios
Guitar: Wes Buchanan

5. HENRY "RED" ALLEN: St. James Infirmary
6. BUNK JOHNSON: When the Saints Go Marching In


Side 2
1. THE DUKES OF DIXIELAND: Tin Roof Blues
(Chicago, 5/3/55) Pete Fountain was still a member of the Assunto brothers' fine little band when they cut one of Dixieland's outstanding themes. Dixieland at its best!
Trumpet: Frank Assunto
Trombone: Fred Assunto
Piano: Arthur J. Seelig, Jr.
Drums: Roger Johnston
Bass: William O. Porter
Clarinet: Pete Fountain

2. BOB SCOBEY: Mississippi Mud
3. PETE KELLY AND HIS BIG SEVEN: Oh Didn't He Ramble
4. JIMMY McPARTLAND: South Rampart Street Parade

5. TONY ALMERICO: Milenberg Joys
(New Orleans, 6/10/56) Recorded in New Orleans, this performance was graced by two of the best Dixieland clarinets alive - Pete Fountain and Pee Wee Spitelera. The tune itself is dedicated to a picnic area a short way from the Crescent city.

Leader: Tony Almerico
Piano: Roy Zimmerman
Bass: Joe Loyacano
Guitar: Frank Federico
Trumpet: Warren H. Luening, Jr.
Drums: Johnny Castaing
Trombone: Jack Delaney
Clarinet: Pete Fountain
Guitar: Wes Buchanan
Tenor Sax: Nino Pecone
Bugle: Sam DeKemel
Clarinet: Pee Wee Spitelera

6. ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND: Livery Stable Blues

® 1964, Radio Corporation of America

High Society - RCA/BMG Records

High Society

Inside 3 Page Insert

1992 RCA/BMG/Bluebird Records 7052-2 H008-17

CD Listing
1. High Society
2. Farewell Blues
3. Darktown Strutters' Ball
4. Ballin' The Jack
5. Muskrat Ramble
6. Twelfth Street Rag
7. Tin Roof Blues
8. Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey

Liner Notes:

Personnel
Pete Fountain - Clarinet
George Girard - Trumpet
Tony Almerico - Trumpet
Santo Pecora - Trombone
Jack Delaney - Trombone
Harry Shields - Clarinet
Lester Bouchen - Tenor Sax
Frank Federico - Guitar
Roy Zimmerman - Piano
Phil Darice - Bass
Roger Johnston - Drums
Paul Edwards - Drums
Wes Buchanan - Guitar

Produced by Pete Fountain and Other All Star Dixielanders - Recorded June 10 and 12, 1956 in New Orleans - Re-issue Producer: John Snyder Executive Producer: Steve Backer - Digitally remastered May 21, 1992 at BMG Recording Studios, New York City - Engineered by Glen Kolotkin and James Nichols Art Direction/Design: Jacqueline Murphy - Photography: Courtesy of Frank Driggs Archives - Art Research: Liz Fierro

The Dukes Of Dixieland Featuring Pete Fountain - RCA Records

The Dukes Of Dixieland Featuring Pete Fountain

1961 RCA Records LSP-2097(e) Stereo / LSM-2097 Mono

My favorite Pete Fountain album. Pete really dominates the recordings with his incredible, high powered, bluesy solos. This isn't the easy listening stuff he does on the Coral LPs. It is raw, Pete at his best, Dixieland jazz style playing. The solos on these recordings are what you think of when you want to hear blazing Dixieland jazz at it's best. I never get tired hearing these tunes over and over - David Mekalian

Side One
1. At the Jazz Band Ball
2. Beale Street Blues
3. Muskrat Ramble
4. Blue Prelude
5. That's A-Plenty
6. Original Dixieland One-Step

Side Two
1. Panama
2. Wolverine Blues
3. Fidgety Feet
4. Tin Roof Blues
5. Tiger Rag
6. When the Saints Come Marching In

Liner Notes:

The Dukes Of Dixieland Featuring Pete Fountain

Trumpet: Frankie Assunto
Trombone: Freddie Assunto
Clarinet: Pete Fountain
Piano: Artie Seelig
Bass: Bill Potter
Drums: Roger Johnston

The Dukes of Dixieland obviously get a tremendous wallop out of music-making. They have always been able to kick into the ensembles like the liner United States plowing into twenty-foot waves. But it was during the time that they were spark-plugged by the hard-driving, albeit soulful and expressive, clarinet of Pete Fountain that they were in their peak form. Here are The Dukes as they were heard during their finest period - the era when their unbeatable combination of great enthusiasm and enormous ability made theirs one of the truly fine jazz groups of all time.